Topic: Shadows over Bogenhafen: game thread [players only please!]

[Sig]

Hans moves over to the elf, asking if any of the others recognise her or can tell what faction she belongs to. He doesn't really know anything about these elves.

[rufus sparkfire]

Mortus and Admund tie up the sleeping elf. She's wearing clothes of various shades of grey, including gloves and soft shoes. She is armed with a pistol crossbow and a case of bolts, and two daggers. She has a small bag containing lockpicks, pliers and other small tools. She also has an empty bag. She isn't carrying money nor anything that would identify her allegiance.

This, together with the pattern of the tapping noises they heard, suggests that she came here to search the ship for something.

[commandant]

"It appears that she didn't find what she was looking for," Mortus says.   "I wonder if it is magical."   She will test the walls for magic.

[rufus sparkfire]

Mortus still senses nothing. However, she knows that she wouldn't be able to sense a magical object through a wall - all she can tell is if the thing she's directly touching is magical.

The sleep spell will last no more than a few minutes.

[commandant]

She'll tap the walls, looking for a secret hiding place.

[rufus sparkfire]

Mortus doesn't find a secret compartment of any kind in this room (the crew quarters).

The elf is starting to wake up.

[rufus sparkfire]

The elf opens her eyes, struggles briefly with her bonds, then glares furiously at you [she's gagged].

[commandant]

Mortus will draw her dagger and hunter down beside the elf.   

"If I take this gag off are you going to scream?" she asks.   "I'm interested in what you would looking for.   Are we going to be able to have a civilized conversation.   Nod if you agree."

(Assuming the elf nods) Mortus will take off the gag and repeat her question about what the elf was searching for.

[rufus sparkfire]

The elf nods in response to Mortus's question. When the gag is removed, she pauses for a moment and then says, "what are you looking for?"

[Sig]

"Our sources led us here after the living dead attacked Goudberg the other day" Hans says softly. "And you'd do well to notice none of us are elves, yet here we are. The one raising the dead though... well, he was definitely an elf. Enough about us. You are?"

[rufus sparkfire]

"Foreigners!" the elf says, sneering. "This is not your concern. We will put our own house in order. You should leave while you still can."

[Karl Voss of Averland]

As Admund searches the elf, he disarms her, handing the blades to Hans and tossing the lock picks to Mortus. When the elf stirs, he steps back and stands up, making sure his cloak masks his face in shadow

"The dead walking again is our concern." Admund whispers coldly. "There are powers at work trying to destroy the bond between elves and men from within. This ship contains evidence to that fact. So tell us, what are you looking for? Tell us quick, and tell us true."

[rufus sparkfire]

"I know why you are here," the elf says. "Do you think we don't know about your meeting with Neralon? Tallaindeloth have long sought to embarrass us. How like them to involve outsiders in their schemes!

"We do not believe the accusations... but we do not take chances. I am to search the ship. Thereafter, what must be must be." She pauses.

"I found a large compartment concealed in the hold, which was empty." She halts there, her expression unreadable. Then, having reached a decision, she says, "it was empty now, but there were traces of blood within. I have searched the crew quarters and found nothing further, but I am sure that there will be a smaller compartment somewhere - either in the captain's cabin, or in the guest quarters in the forecastle."

She smiles unpleasantly. "Perhaps you have searched those places already. But your human senses are feeble. Untie me and we will find the compartment together."

[commandant]

"Have you any ideas of what might be inside such a conpartment?" Mortus asks.

[rufus sparkfire]

"It may be empty. I do not believe it will contain what you and your dwarf masters expect to find... but there is the possibility it will embarrass us regardless."

[commandant]

"Dwarf Masters?" Mortus raises an eyebrow.   "You seem less useful to us then."

[rufus sparkfire]

"If you do not wish for my help, then you must look by yourselves. Be prepared for a lengthy search. Remember that the night will not last forever."

[Sig]

"You will help" sneers Hans. "But your Lord of the Silver Isles summoned the dead before my eyes, and I beat him for it. Your house cannot be brought to order - it can only be saved from utter annihilation. I hope you don't presume your countrymen would hesitate to jettison your clan to save their reputations. You don't have dwarf enemies in this, you're doing a fine job of tearing yourselves apart. Let's go, and be done with this filthy business."

[Karl Voss of Averland]

Admund, his face still concealed by his cloak and shadow, slips a dagger out of his belt and fluidly cuts the binds around the elf's wrists, and slips it back into his belt.

"Elves and Men have long treated together, despite our differences, for peace and prosperity. We're here to honor that. We seek to only expose corruption, so it may be cut out not so the whole body may rot and decay. Now help us find what we're looking for."

Admund will escort the elf to the captain's quarters.

[commandant]

Mortus follows to the Captain's Quaters though she is moving more tensely than before

[rufus sparkfire]

"So that is what happened to the Lord of the Silver Isles," the elf says, raising one eyebrow. "His disappearance has been puzzling." She says nothing else, only nodding at Admund's words as he cuts the bonds. She goes with the group back to the captain's cabin.


From the watchtower, Heinrich sees that his three comrades have been joined by a fourth, though he can tell nothing else in the dim light.


In the cabin, the elf begins a search, watched closely by Mortus, Admund and Hans.

[Elf search test: fail. Second search test: pass!]

She searches for several minutes without success, muttering under her breath. The name 'Imraholen' is distinguishable, but the rest are presumably elvish curses. Then suddenly an idea strikes her: she examines the cabin's ceiling in the far aft corner. After tapping carefully in several places, she locates a pressure point. Part of the ceiling swings smoothly down, revealing a narrow compartment. A thin black case, perhaps ten inches long and six wide, can be seen inside. She reaches for it.

[rufus sparkfire]

The elf removes the black case from the compartment. She studies it for a moment, before deciding to open it...

[elf spot check: a number!]

...she slides a catch on the side and the case springs open. As it does, she suddenly gasps... and crumples to the floor, falling on top of the case. She doesn't move.

[commandant]

Mortus will check if she is alive, she will also check the case for magic

[rufus sparkfire]

Mortus turns the elf over. She's not breathing. The case, which she fell on top of, has almost - but not quite - closed again. The catch hasn't re-engaged, so it can easily be opened. However, a long, thin needle is protruding from the side of the case, near the catch. It looks like a spring-loaded trap that the elf failed to notice.

Mortus cautiously touches the case. She senses no magic (though of course she can't sense the contents of the case, only the case itself).

[Sig]

"Do we bother?" asks Hans, raising an eyebrow and gesturing at the elf. Not knowing any relevant first aid, Hans ignores her and moves to open the case, prodding the needle with his sword first to see if the case moves or does anything further.